Tongue support



C. PEARSON.

TONGUE SUPPORT.

- APPLICATION F|LED JUNE 25,1919- ].,QEIQ fiQSD PatentedJune 13, 1922.

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C. PEARSON.

- TONGUE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25.1919.

Patented. June 113, 1922.

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1 CHARLES PEARSON, 01? CHICAGO, ILLINOE TGNGUE Specification of Application filed June 25,

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CHAnLns Pnanson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cool: and otate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Tongue Supports, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to tongue supports, and more particularly to wheeled tongue supports for agricultural machines.

it is becoming more and more common to support the tongues of agricultural machines such as mowers, during their operation in order to sustain the weight of the tongue and the machine and to talre this weight from the horses used to propel the machine. Wheeled tongue supports are, moreover, provided to facilitate the turning of the machine, and in connection with this feature it is desirable that the connection between the wheel and the tongue he so (losigned that the wheel will normally be retained in a uniform position of adj i stment or in a position corresponding to the posi-- tion of the main wheels of the machine.

It is also desirable that this supporting means for the tongue he made resilient in order to accommodate the various positions assumed by the machine in operation in a field.

It has been found that harvester implement tongues are subjected to a torsional strain during the operation of the machine. the strain being caused by the tilting of the axle of the machine, and therefore it is desirable that means he provided for overcoming this torsional strain.

The present invention, therefore, has for its objects to provide supporting means for the tongue of agricultural machines and machines of that character, and moreover, to provide supporting means that will re silientlv support the tongue and will automatically return its tongue to a normal position of adjustment.

A further object is to so connect the support with the tongue that the support. such for instance as a castor wheel. will be normally retained in a position of steering position corresponding to the path of travel of the main wheels of the machine.

A still further object is to provide means for returning the castor wheel or other support to this normal position of steering l-lSSIG-NQR TU I." TEE COMPANY, Ii CORPOEAiTION 31" NET/if ATIONAL HARVES- iettelslfltent- Patented June 13, 1922'.

1919. Serial its. sector.

adjustment after the castor wheel has been turned on its axis, as for instance, when the machine is turned out of its normal direc tion of travel.

A. still further object is to so connect the axle of the caster wheel with the pivot axis on which it is swiveled, that the normal direction of travel of the castor wheel ma be varied in order to accommodate the sup port to different degrees of side draft.

i' /ith the above objects in view, my in vention consists briefly of a castor wheel support, which is resiliently connected with the tongue of the machine whereby the tongue automatically returned to a normal position of vertical adjustment after being changed from that position to different positions of adjustment. The invention also includes means for normally maintaining the castor wheel in a definite position of ad ustment with respect to the direction of travel of the castor wheel, this means bein so constructed that the castor wheel will automatically change from this normal position when the machine is turned out of its normal path of travel, but will be auto matically returned when the machine is again propelled in its normal direction of travel. in working out my invention 1 have also provided means co-operating with the tongue support and engaging the frame of the machine for preventing and overcoming any torsional strain on the tongue.

Referring to the drawings, wherein one embodiment of the invention is shown F 1g. 1 is a top plan view of a mowing machine having my improved tongue support thereon;

fuig. 2 is a side elevation of the construetion shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View in elevation and on an enlarged scale, showing the resilient connection between the tongue support of. the braplrets secured to the tongue;

Big. l 1s a rear elevational view of the caster Wheel support and its pivotal mounting;

Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the adjustable connection between the caster wheel and its vertical pivot; and

Figs. 6 and Y illustrate in plan and elevation the construction of one of the cam memhers which normally retain the castor wheel in a definite direction of travel.

In illustrating my improved construction of castor wheel tongue support, I have shown this support in connection with a mowing machine, but it should be understood that While this support is particularly adapted for mowing machines, it is also adapted to other agricultural machines, and that the type of machine illustrated has been chosen merely for the purpose of showing one practical embodiment of the invention. The mowing machine illustrated is of the common type of machine and comprises a frame 10, pivot-ally supported on an axle 11, which in turn is carried by the usual main wheels 12 of the mower. The driving shaft for the cutting mechanism is journaled in a forwardly extending casing 13, preferably formed integral with the machine frame. The cutting apparatus 14: is connected to the frame by means of a coupling bar 15 and a drag bar 16 in the usual manner. Suitable driving connections for the cutter bar are provided, but these connections have been omitted from the showing as they constitute no part of the invention herein claimed. A tongue 17 is secured to the frame of the machine by bolts 18, and extends forwardly therefrom, being provided at its front end with the usual means for securing the horses or other draft means thereto.

The tongue support is connected to the tongue through a bracket 19 which is secured in any suitable manner or as by bolts 20 to the tongue. he bracket 19 is provided with two pairs of outwardly extending lugs 21 inclined with respect to the tongue, the lugs of each pair being provided with aligned apertures adapted to receive pivot pins 22, on which are journaled the inner ends of links 23. The links 23 are disposed parallel to each other and are pivotally connected at their outer ends to lugs 24:, preferably formed integral with a vertical pivot caster bracket 25. The pivot pins 25, by means of which the links 23 are connected with the lugs 2a, are disposed parallel to the pivot pins 22 carried by the bracket 19, this construction being clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. The vertical pivot bracket 25 is provided at its lower end with a cam member 26, having inclined cam surfaces 27, these surfaces cooperating with corresponding cam surfaces on a cam member 28, illustrated in detail in 6 and '7. The member 28 has formed integrally therewith a sleeve portion 29, and the sleeve portion 29 is provided with an outwardly extending lug 30 having a slot 31 adjacent its outer end and formed concentrically with the longitudinal axes of the sleeve 29 and cam member 28. The cam-meinber 28 and sleeve 29 are also provided with a central longitudinal bore 32 for the reception of the vertical pivot axle 33, upon which the caster wheel support is swiveled. The pivot bracket 25 is also provided with the corresponding longitudinal bore which forms a bearing for the axle 33. The axle 33 has formed integrally therewith at its lower end an Outwardly projecting or offset arm at, this arm in turn having formed integrally therewith a downwardly extending arm 35, and the castor wheel 36 is carried by an offset axle 37,, neferably formed integral with the vertically extending arm 35. The arm 3% is adjustably secured to the lug 30 on camemember 28, by bolt which passes through the arm 34: and through the slot 31 formed in the lug 30. By means of this adjustable connection, the angle of the axle 37 carrying the castor wheel 36 may be adjusted with respect to the tongue or with respect to the direction of travel of the machine. As in the usual mower construction, the cutter bar is provided with a swather board at its outer end, and this board clears a path in which the grassward mower wheel travels on the succeeding round of the field. Attention is here called to the fact that the castor wheel is positioned immediately in front of the main wheel, and so travels in the path cleared by the swather board. In case of side draft, it may be found desirable to adjust this rastor wheel so that its normal direction of travel will be slightly inclined to the main path. of travel of the machine. In Fig. 5 l have shown two positions of adjustment of the caster wheel. A cotter pin 39 is secured to the upper end of the vertical pivot axle 33, this pin preventing the axle from becoming disconnected from the bracket 25. l n working out my improved castor wheel support I have also provided. resilient means for adj ustably maintaining the caster wheel in a definite vertical position, this resilient means comprising a spring ll) secured at its inner end to a bolt ll having a hooked end portion the bolt -1ll being secured to an offset lug 1:0 carried by the bracket 19. The opposite end of the spring 40 is secured to the hooked end portion 44 of a bolt 45 which in turn is secured to an offset portion 46 formed on the outer end of the upper link In vFig. 3 I have shown two vertical positions of adjustment of the tongue support,

and from this showing the action of the spring will be clear. As the caster wheel support and the tongue change their relative positions of adjustment the spring 40' is stretched, but tends to return these members to their normal positions and to maintain them in this position.

As stated above in the objects of the invention, means has also been provided, for preventing or overcoming the torsional strain on the tongue of the mower, and this construction will next be described. Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2. it will be seen that the bracket is provided with a pair of rearwardly extending lugs l7, these lugs being inclined with respect to the tongue 17 and being provided with aligned apertures which receive a pivot bolt 48. A- bar 41 9 is pivotally mounted on the bolt 48 and is inclined with, respect to the path of travel of the machine, the rear end of this bar being offset as shown at 50. The offset end 50 of the bar 1-9 rests on and contacts with the upper surface of the casing 13. At its opposite end the bar 49 is provided with a substantially vertical aperture 51, which receives a bolt 52 which in turn passes through an offset lug :53, preferably formed integral with the bracket 19. Bolt 52 is headed at its lower end and has an adjustable nut 52 at its upper end to provide for changing the effective length of the bolt, thereby providing for the counteracting of different degrees of torsional strain on the tongue. This adjustment also provides for the attachment of the device to different sizes and styles of frames. From the above description it is believed that the operation of this bar -19 will be clear, it being understood that the torsional strain of the tongue 17 tends to lift the portion of the tongue disposed on the grassward sideof the machine, and to depress the portion of the tongue disposed toward the stubbleward side of the machine. As this strain is exerted and tends to twist the tongue, the rear end portion 50 of the bar 4-9 will tend to move in a downward direction, but this tendency is counteracted by the contact of this portion of the barwith the casing 13 of the machine. Therefore, the bar 19 overcomes the tendency of the tongue to twist.

In view of the fact that the operation of the various parts of the improved tongue support has been set forth in connection with the description of these parts, it is believed that further statements of operation will be unnecessary.

From the above description of the construction and operation of the improved tongue support and of the means co-operating therewith for overcoming the torsional strain on the tongue, it will be seen that a simple, practical and efiicient construction has been provided, and a construction Whereby the castor wheel is normally maintained in a definite direction of travel, is automatically returned to this direction of travel after having been deflected. there-from, is normally maintained in a definite position of vertical adjustment and is automatically returned to this position after having been moved to other positions of adjustment and whereby the tendency of the tongue to twist and to be placed under torsional strain is counteracted and overcome. In connection with the means for controlling the normal direction of travel of the castor wheel, means has also been provided for changing this direction, so that the direction of travel to which the castor wheel returns after being deflected may be varied in order to overcome side draft or for any other desired reason.

While I have in the above specification described one embodiment of my invention and have illustrated this embodiment in connection with a particular type of machine, it should be understood that any other type of machine may be used if desired, and that changes and modifications in the construction and the arrangement of the various parts of the device may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as expressed by the following claims:

1. In combination, a mower having a frame, a tongue carried thereby, supporting wheels for said frame, and a tongue support secured to said tongue in offset relation with respect thereto and disposed in the path of the grassward supporting wheel.

2. In combination, a mower having a frame, supporting wheels thereof, a tongue carried by said frame, a bracket carried by said tongue and a castor wheel resiliently connected to and in advance of said bracket and disposed in the path of the grassward supporting wheel. 7

3. In combination, a tongue, a castor wheel mounted in a castor bracket, a plurality of movable link connections between said castor braeketand said tongue and resilient means for determining the vertical position of said castor wheel with respect to said tongue.

4. In combination, a tongue, a bracket carried thereby, a plurality of parallel links pivotally connected to said bracket, a castor wheel pivotally connected to the outer ends of said links and resilient means connecting one of said links with said bracket.

5. In combination, a tongue, parallel links operatively connected to said tongue, a vertically disposed bracket operatively conneeted to said links at their outer ends, a castor wheel swivelly connected to said bracket and means for normally retainin said castor wheel in a definite position wit respect to said bracket.

6. in combination, a tongue, a support for said tongue, including a bracket fixed to said tongue and movable vertically with respect thereto, a vertical pivot aXle swiveled in said bracket, a castor wheeloperatively connected to said pivot axle and means for maintaining said pivot axle and castor wheel in a definite lateral adjustment with respect to said bracket.

7. In combination, a tongue, a vertically disposed bracket operatively connected thereto, a castor wheel swivelly connected to said bracket, means for normally retaining said bracket in a fixed position of adjust ment with respect to said caster wheel and means for adjusting said castor Wheel laterally With respect to said bracket in a manner to vary said fixed position of adjustment.

8. A tongue support including in combination a vertically disposed bracket, a vertical pivot axle swiveled in said bracket said bracket movable vertically With respect to said tongue and means carried by said pivot axle and said bracket for releasably maintaining said pivot axle in a fixed relation With respect to said bracket.

9. A tongue support including in combination a vertically disposed bracket, a pivot axle swiveled therein, a castor Wheel operatively connected to said axle, a cam member carried by said bracket and a coacting cam member adjustably connected to said axle.

10. In combination, a mower having a frame, a tongue carried thereby, and adjust able means carried by said tongue and en gaging said frame for preventing torsional strain on said tongue in'a predetermined direction. v

11. I11 combination, a machine having a frame, a tongue carried by said frame and a pivoted member operatively connected to said tongue and engaging said frame for preventing torsional strain on said tongue in a predetermined direction.

12. In combination, a machine frame, a tongue carried thereby, a bracket carried by said tongue and a bar pivoted on said bracket and engaging said frame for counteracting torsional strain on said tongue in a predetermined direction.

13. In combination, a machine frame, a tongue carried thereby, a bracket carried by said tongue and means pivoted on said bracket and adjustably engaging said frame for counteracting torsional strain on said' tongue in a predetermined direction.

14. In combination, a machine having a forwardly projecting frame member, a tongue operatively connected to said machine and a bar carried by said tongue and positioned edgewise for engaging said forwardly projecting frame member for counteracting torsional strain on said tongue in a predetermined direction.

15. In combination, a mower having a frame, a tongue carried thereby, a bracket carried by said tongue, a castor Wheel oper atively connected to said bracket and means comprising a bar carried by said bracket and engaging said frame for counteracting torsional strain on' said tongue'in a predeten ,mined direction.

16. In combination, a mower havlng'a frame, a tongue carried thereby, a bracket secured to said tongue, a castor Wheel resiliently connected to said bracket and a lever pivoted to said bracket and engaging said frame at therear end of said lever and en gaging said bracket at the front end of said lever for preventing torsional strainon said tongue in a predetermined direction.

17. In combination, atongue, a bracket carriedthereby, a plurality of links disposed diagonally With respect to said tongue and pivotally connected to said bracket, a cast'or wheel operatively connected tolthe outer ends of said links andre'sili'ent means con necting both of said links.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES PEARSON. 

